Physician Assistant Science, Master's Degree
School of Health Sciences & Education
Introduction
Improve the health of others with your Physician Assistant degree from Saint Francis University
As a leading educator in the field of physician assistant science, Saint Francis University will prepare you to become a qualified physician assistant in an accredited direct-admit, accelerated 5-year format, or upon completion of your bachelor's degree (2-year format).
Established as one of the first physician assistant (PA) degree programs, Saint Francis University is nationally known for strong Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) pass rates and graduates who excel in clinical competence, professionalism, and compassion.
On-campus program with direct-entry and graduate admissions paths
Direct-entry: the most efficient way to enter the PA field
Over the past 5 years, SFU graduates have achieved a first-time pass rate well above the national PANCE pass rate
A fully accredited program by ARC-PA
The SFU LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Physician Assistant Science the Saint Francis Way
As a physician assistant science student, you will study alongside a cohort of peers who are all driven to fulfill the work of tomorrow's healthcare providers. The format of our physicians assistant program enables enrolled students to form a strong, cohesive bond that focuses on collaborative learning experiences.
The PA Degree Student Experience
Our accelerated 5-year physician assistant program format will reduce your time from enrollment to employment without sacrificing either a critical academic foundation or outstanding clinical skills. If you have already earned a bachelor's degree, our 2-year graduate PA pathway is an excellent choice for furthering your education to reach your career goals.
Our carefully crafted program is designed to support you with an appropriate knowledge base and sound clinical skills. Hands-on experiences are woven throughout your academic career, providing the opportunity to apply what you have learned in the classroom.
As you pursue your PA degree at Saint Francis, you will:
- Study under highly regarded faculty who have created an atmosphere focused on student success.
- Apply your academic knowledge in our state-of-the-art Experiential Learning Commons that includes varied simulation labs and high-fidelity manikins.
- Work with peers from other disciplines, enhancing your clinical skills, and incorporating that will drive you towards the practice of compassionate healthcare that is a hallmark of our graduates.
- Pursue co-curricular and student learning activities (athletics, study abroad, service opportunities) not commonly available at other institutions.
PA Admissions Requirements
Start as a freshman in our accelerated Physician Assistant Sciences program for the fastest path to your PA career, or join us as an MPA graduate student!
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Saint Francis University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Saint Francis University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2026. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. Information on the accreditation history of the program can be viewed at the following link: http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-saint-francis-university/
Graduate Performance:
The physician assistant program's first-time taker pass-rate on the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) for the past five years is 96% (compared to the national average of 93%).
| Academic Year | # Graduates | First Time Takers Pass Rate | NCCPA National First Time Takers Pass Rate |
2025 | 48 | 94% | Available in 2026 |
2024 | 47 | 94% | 92% |
| 2023 | 48 | 100% | 92% |
| 2022 | 51 | 100% | 92% |
| 2021 | 53 | 91% | 93% |
| 2020 | 51 | 100% | 95% |
| 2019 | 49 | 94% | 93% |
| 2018 | 47 | 100% | 98% |
| 2017 | 51 | 100% | 97% |
PANCE 5 Year Exam Performance Summary
MPAS Attrition and Graduation rates may be found here.
Experienced PA faculty who love to teach
Our Physician Assistant faculty have expertise in both clinical practice and teaching. A true dedication to teaching future front-line workers is a passion among all our faculty. Our faculty have extensive backgrounds in family medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics and psychiatry.
Department Chair/MPAS Program Director: Dr. Melissa Kagarise, DHSc, MMS, PA-C, mkagarise@francis.edu, 814.472.3135
Career Outlook in Physician Assistant Sciences
Clinical experiences in the professional phase occur in multiple settings and are designed to help students become well-rounded practitioners and find the career path they are most passionate about pursuing. Once you pass the national certification exam, you can practice in any specialty area you choose.
Physician assistants are in demand across most settings and commonly choose placements in family practice, general internal medicine, emergency medicine and surgical subspeciality areas such as orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and plastic surgery.
Salary Potential: The median annual wages are above $100,000 depending on chosen career path.
Growth Industry: The employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 31% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 12,000 openings for physician assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.